Australia’s Offshore Detention: Manus Island Nightmares

Earlier this week, there was yet another life ended on Manus Island. Manus Island is the name given to an Australian offshore detention centre in Papua New Guinea; one of two main processing centres. On this occasion, a Rohingya refugee jumped from a moving bus; resulting in his untimely death. Consequently, this devastating loss has to lead to the re-centralization of media to the underlying issue; Australia’s continual use of offshore processing facilities. Over 600 people remain in the Manus Island facilities, while 269 people; including over 20 children remain in the Nauru centre.

The Manus Island detention centre is overcrowded, underfunded, hostile and an unsafe environment.  Many live out their lives stuck on the Island, isolated from their families, with no proof of identity and no hope of a future in Australia.  Unfortunately, life does not get any better living on Manus Island; not only are refugees faced with mental and physical illness, but also hostility from the Manus Islanders.

In 2017, widespread attention was drawn to the barbaric practices of the Australian offshore detention facilities when the UN High Commissioner publicly expressed his concerns for the centres’ facilities. His specific concerns were surrounding the safety and welfare of the centres’ inhabitants. This lead to media outlets barraging the Australian government, in a call for justice. Within this campaign, the goal was to pressure the end of unnecessary offshore detention in an unsafe, traumatic environment.  However, this drew greater attention to the atrocities of the Island. One of many issues within the camp is a major lack of medical assistance. The recent passing of Rohingya refugee Salim Kyawning highlighted this as he was allegedly in need of medical attention. He had suffered from multiple seizures over the course of his stay on the island and he had grown tired of the minimal medical support he was receiving. Unfortunately, this is in keeping with prior issues which surfaced during the 2017 controversy.

On various occasions, the security of the asylum seekers has been compromised by the Manus Islanders. The 2014 RAC fact sheet on Manus Island noted that ‘asylum seekers [are] trapped in compounds and their rooms, facing mobs armed with guns, machetes, pipes and sticks puts it beyond any doubt that asylum seekers were attacked that night…’. Drawing attention to the ongoing danger detainees are placed in. Asylum seekers on Manus Island are people who have fled conflict, only to be left in an unsafe facility; surrounded by locals who despise the camp. Consequently, this has not only affected the physical health and safety of asylum seekers but also crushed their hope and instilled long-term mental health dilemmas.

Furthermore, the continual presence of children within Nauru facilities raises further concerns. In 2017, a variety of Amnesty international reports were released exposing the underlying violence, rape and child molestation occurring within the camps. This resulted in the condoning of children being forced to live in these conditions, and an eventual push for children and young families to be housed elsewhere and processed sooner. However, recent statistics show that; while children have been moved from Manus Island, there are at least 20 still in the Nauru facilities.

Moreover, when venturing from the centres, detainees are met with major hostilities. Various accounts from asylum seekers and third-party witnesses have noted that although victims are behaving respectfully; without exhibiting provocative behaviour, they are targeted by the Islanders. This has led to bashings, muggings and nonviolent hostilities, reinforcing the anger towards the asylum seekers, and underlying hostility towards the Australian government. Furthermore, this fuels the fear and insecurities faced by the asylum seekers in our offshore centres.

A number of changes must be made, due to the evident longevity of this offshore detention process; for the sake of the asylum seekers and their wellbeing. Unfortunately, Peter Dutton’ current talks with New Zealand’s government has revealed the continued position of Australian authorities; to pass on the issue of asylum seekers to third-party states for processing and resettlement rather than granting access to our country. Consequently, there must be changes made to the on-Island conditions for the remainder of the use of these facilities.

Security needs to be greatly increased, to ensure Manus Islanders can no longer infiltrate the centre.  Islanders should not be in the centres unless deemed necessary under the clearance and supervision of the Wilson Security guards.  Through increasing perimeter security, the issue of Islanders breaking down the wire fences around the camp should be eliminated, preventing them from damaging the Australian funded centre, but also for the safety of the centre’s inhabitants.  As a result, the asylum seekers can be kept in a safe location while they await processing or deportation from the detention centre.  This would ensure that Australia is no longer in breach of UNHCR Conventions relating to refugees and that all refugees, regardless of their processing status must have security.

Finally, Australia needs to refrain from offshore detention.  This would involve all above steps in regards to the treatment of refugees already in detention centres, combined with discontinuing transfers to centres such as Manus Island and Nauru for all future asylum seekers.  Security cannot be guaranteed for asylum seekers in offshore detention centres, this has been proven on numerous occasions.  Australia does not have the ability to control citizens of other countries in any way, making it impossible to ensure asylum seekers remain safe.  However, if detention centres are within Australian territory, laws can be made and police can enforce, to ensure that asylum seekers in processing centres will be in an environment safe from violent attacks, under the jurisdiction of the Australian Government.

Overall, the conditions on Manus Island must at least be changed if the Australian government is to persist with their denial of entry to the State. Yet another life has been lost, totalling 8 deaths between Manus Island and Nuru facilities recorded. While this issue has become silent within the greater sphere of Australian politics, action must be taken to ensure the security and progression of this issue; these asylum seekers journeyed to Australian borders seeking help. As a result, it is Australia’s responsibility to help these victims; not to prolong their suffering and exacerbate the hardships these individuals are faced with.

Emy-Lee Rogers
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